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Post by lincolnfan on May 19, 2014 22:37:09 GMT
I am posting because one of your number has invited me to do so. I obviously know little or nothing aside from the basics on Bristol Rovers but, sadly, I do know a little about the Conference so if there are any questions about that I will help if I can.
I've read a couple of the threads and would like to make some general comments if I may. The "other" forum that has started following the demise of the Official Forum is described as being full of angry people. I think you will find that the forums of all the former Football League clubs who inhabit the conference (not to mention the forum of Stockport County who inhabit Conference North) were at the time also full of very angry people, not just for months but sometimes for years and for all I know it is still going on in the case of Stockport.
In each and every case supporters feel "someone" is to blame and let rip. And probably someone is to blame - it seems to me that often the players might be held to account but very rarely are. However inept the directors/owner/manager of any football club may be it won't be them that misses the "absolute sitter" as they say on message boards which might have kept you in a league or got you promoted. The transition from the Football League to the Conference is no different. Yes it will have happened on the watch of the inept whoever but they aren't entirely responsible for the ball that hits the inside of the post and comes back out rather than going in.
On your poll as to how you will do I cannot help either because I don't have any idea as to how any of us will do next season so Old Person is a bit baffled as to why he was invited. There is technically no reason why you can't storm the division and get the one automatic place at the first time of asking. Whether that will happen I cannot say. It hasn't happened recently but perhaps you will make the breakthrough?
I cannot help with any politics except in the most general terms (like any supporter of any club not directly involved) but I totally understand the anger being expressed generally and the hurt that people are sometimes ranting on about and I consider it completely normal for committed supporters of any particular club.
The only people who really want to be in the Conference Premier are those who have just been promoted to it from the other end of the pyramid.
Will try and answer any questions about the Conference (if I know the answer).
As a further and general observation both Cambridge and Gateshead (particularly the latter) have played far better in the League than they did in the play off. Perhaps the occasion got to one or both of them. On the bright side we will all be spared the outrageous time wasting of Cambridge in the forthcoming season.
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Post by Hugo Admin on May 19, 2014 22:41:39 GMT
Hello lincolnfan and thanks for taking the time to log on and talk to us. We are all still hurting but there is still an air if optimism in the camp moving forward. We anxiously await news from the club to boost our spirits. I'm sure the gasheads here will have a lot to ask you.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2014 22:44:09 GMT
Nice to see you here Lincoln Fan, and thanks for the general info.
Hopefully, with our Manager having had experience of Conference South football, he will keep the players' feet on the ground with regard to the task in hand. I'm sure a section of our fans will think they're the Billy Big B*llocks of Non League, but I think that those who use the 2 forums are quite realistic about our chances.
I'm sure you'll get quite a few questions from us new boys.
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Post by Russgas on May 20, 2014 7:19:18 GMT
Hi Lincoln, Thanks for taking the time to come on here. Your experience of the conference will be invaluable to all of us i'm sure.
I got a couple of questions for you, First up, I heard a rumour that Referee's in the conference are much worse than leg 2 refs, based on what you have witnessed so far is this true?
Secondly, Not sure if you follow Lincoln away much, but i was reading a luton town forum a while back and they were discussing crowd segregation at some of the grounds, or rather the lack of it. Apparently you can stand where you want to in some grounds or walk around and even change ends during some games. This sounds a very laid back approach. Have you seen any crowd disturbances as a result of this ?
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 7:19:23 GMT
TT. If we are not the Billy Big Bollocks, then what are we?
I know we are just another Conf team, accepted, but surely if there is going to be a BBB, it has to be us?
So tired of the shrug, sigh and general apathy tbh.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 7:23:11 GMT
On the subject of refs Russ. I mentioned some time ago, a bad ref can actually be an advantage if the players/staff are wise enough to use it.
No difference to parks football. A bad ref will let it be known early so rather than going to battle with him, get him onside.
Sadly, we are too thick to do anything other than complain, argue, abuse and push him the other way.
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Post by Hugo Admin on May 20, 2014 7:23:36 GMT
TT. If we are not the Billy Big Bollocks, then what are we? I know we are just another Conf team, accepted, but surely if there is going to be a BBB, it has to be us? So tired of the shrug, sigh and general apathy tbh. yeah I gotta say, last year I felt like we were just another little fish in a big pond. This coming year we should be the Dam sharks for once. We keep talking about potential but when are we going to actually act on that. |
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 7:25:55 GMT
Hi Lincoln. Thanks for the vague input thus far.  ? If you have read about 'other forum' being the alternative? That has been running for almost 10 years. (Correct if wrong, wow, I think it was 05!) |
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 7:54:44 GMT
Hi lincolnfan.Who are the quickest and best wingers in this division in your opinion and who are the players to look out for in your team.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 12:05:32 GMT
Hi Lincoln fan, Any comments on lee Gregory. Is he as good as some are making out ?
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 15:50:14 GMT
TT. If we are not the Billy Big Bollocks, then what are we? I know we are just another Conf team, accepted, but surely if there is going to be a BBB, it has to be us? So tired of the shrug, sigh and general apathy tbh. I was referring to a section of our fans - rather than how Rovers compares to the other clubs in the Conference. Maybe I didn't put it very well, but I was alluding to an air of arrogance, strolling into these "little" grounds thinking they're John Wayne in High Chapparal.  I'm certainly all for getting right behind the team, and believing that we can be top dogs/big fish etc!  |
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Post by lincolnfan on May 20, 2014 16:18:16 GMT
Hi Lincoln, Thanks for taking the time to come on here. Your experience of the conference will be invaluable to all of us i'm sure. I got a couple of questions for you, First up, I heard a rumour that Referee's in the conference are much worse than leg 2 refs, based on what you have witnessed so far is this true? Secondly, Not sure if you follow Lincoln away much, but i was reading a luton town forum a while back and they were discussing crowd segregation at some of the grounds, or rather the lack of it. Apparently you can stand where you want to in some grounds or walk around and even change ends during some games. This sounds a very laid back approach. Have you seen any crowd disturbances as a result of this ?
No there isn't usually much trouble but most grounds do segregate because Pc Plod pretty much insists on it everywhere. I don't go away much these days so I'm not that up to speed but the larger clubs segregate. I think you can still change ends at certain grounds but not at any of the ex football league clubs (so far as I know).
Referees and linesmen very variable, not sure they are much worse but they certainly aren't any better. We do get a fair number of League 2 referees/linos in the Conference and very occasionally League One (I always assume they are being punished for something!).
The problem is that we are also a test ground for refs/linos trying to get on the FL list and the experiment is carried out on us.
I think the standard is a bit lower than League 2 but not by much and from everything I've heard League 2 officials come under fire quite a bit. |
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Post by lincolnfan on May 20, 2014 16:38:18 GMT
Hi lincolnfan.Who are the quickest and best wingers in this division in your opinion and who are the players to look out for in your team. Difficult to answer because some of the best of them have just disappeared with Luton and Cambridge. It's also difficult to answer because Conference squads change season to season particularly among smaller budget clubs (like Lincoln) who offer a lot of 12 month contracts. I have no idea what our squad will be - we are supposed to be getting three or four players in but we are also told that Luton are sniffing about on one, possibly, two of ours and if that is the case we will lose them. We can't compete on wages. Tomlinson is our top goal scorer but we desperately need someone else to partner him. Gregory at Halifax is probably the most in form striker in the Conference but I don't think he will be in the league next season. He'll be gone. We started well and finished well but had a bad patch in the middle. Three more wins and a couple of draws would have seen us in the playoffs. It is impossible league to predict I think. Eastleigh have apparently got money - will Gateshead continue to be bankrolled?? Forest Green are always a potential threat and Barnet - provided he doesn't thump someone or leave in a huff - have a manager who knows the division extremely well. It would not surprise me to see Barnet do well. I suspect Aldershot could be a dark horse as well (they had a 10 point deduction otherwise would have been further up the table.) Torquay have been here before. I think what you find is that there are always a couple of surprise teams - you might be one of them. There is decent skill down here but there are also some real bruisers so it's a curious combination. In all honesty I think anybody who predicts front runners in the Conference is probably doing a lot of guesswork although clearly clubs with money usually have a better chance. But it took Luton five years and about £7m to get out of it so sometimes even the money doesn't work straight away. Forest Green have put in millions and they faded away quite early on this season. Kidderminster will probably not be far away - the manager who has taken over is reckoned to be pretty astute at this level. |
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Post by lincolnfan on May 20, 2014 16:41:17 GMT
Hi Lincoln fan, Any comments on lee Gregory. Is he as good as some are making out ? Gregory has had a great season and his record speaks for itself but as you probably know there are various FL clubs who are interested and I don't think he will be in the Conference next year. He seems to be an instinctive finisher and there aren't very many of those to the pound at whatever level. |
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 17:03:09 GMT
Thanks for the response lincolnfan,all in all a massive step in the dark for us next season by the sounds of it.Good luck and I hope you finish 2nd next season!
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Post by 4evergas67 on May 20, 2014 17:15:38 GMT
Hi Lincolnfan
Can I just take opportunity to thank you and your team for being part of the cannon fodder that will see our triumphant return straight back to the football league ;-)
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Post by Russgas on May 20, 2014 17:29:59 GMT
Many thanks Lincoln for your input. |
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Post by seanclevedongas on May 20, 2014 19:41:18 GMT
Hi Lincolnfan thank you so much for the opportunity you have given us to ask questions.
1. Why is Lincolnshire so flat?
2. How many cabbages get grown in Lincolnshire each year?
3. Who do you think will be the main teams challenging at the top this year (apart from Lincoln and the Gas of course)?
Thank you in anticipation of your answers
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Post by lincolnfan on May 20, 2014 20:33:22 GMT
Hi Lincolnfan thank you so much for the opportunity you have given us to ask questions. 1. Why is Lincolnshire so flat? 2. How many cabbages get grown in Lincolnshire each year? 3. Who do you think will be the main teams challenging at the top this year (apart from Lincoln and the Gas of course)? Thank you in anticipation of your answers 1. Everybody thinks all of Lincolnshire is flat but that isn't so. The Wolds are far from flat and Lincoln and The Edge which surrounds it is not flat either. When your supporters come to our beautiful city you can discover Steep Hill for yourself and even hold a race up it if you wish. Good luck! 2. Millions of cabbages, millions of potatoes, millions of salads, millions of celery. Took over from Kent as The Garden of England years ago and now keep all your supermarkets going. 3. Can't call it. Not a League for half-committed faint hearted players. Gateshead if they still have money, Forest Green possibly, Barnet if the Mad Manager stays, Aldershot possibly, Kidderminster, Grimsby will have their usual million to spend I imagine. Don't know Lincoln squad yet so I'll opt for avoiding relegation. There is always a couple of surprise teams - you might be one of those. It is a very tough competitive league with few cricket scores. Even poor old Hyde, battered all season, only lost 1-0 at home to Luton. |
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Post by seanclevedongas on May 20, 2014 20:55:30 GMT
Hi Lincolnfan thank you so much for the opportunity you have given us to ask questions. 1. Why is Lincolnshire so flat? 2. How many cabbages get grown in Lincolnshire each year? 3. Who do you think will be the main teams challenging at the top this year (apart from Lincoln and the Gas of course)? Thank you in anticipation of your answers 1. Everybody thinks all of Lincolnshire is flat but that isn't so. The Wolds are far from flat and Lincoln and The Edge which surrounds it is not flat either. When your supporters come to our beautiful city you can discover Steep Hill for yourself and even hold a race up it if you wish. Good luck! 2. Millions of cabbages, millions of potatoes, millions of salads, millions of celery. Took over from Kent as The Garden of England years ago and now keep all your supermarkets going. 3. Can't call it. Not a League for half-committed faint hearted players. Gateshead if they still have money, Forest Green possibly, Barnet if the Mad Manager stays, Aldershot possibly, Kidderminster, Grimsby will have their usual million to spend I imagine. Don't know Lincoln squad yet so I'll opt for avoiding relegation. There is always a couple of surprise teams - you might be one of those. It is a very tough competitive league with few cricket scores. Even poor old Hyde, battered all season, only lost 1-0 at home to Luton. Top man! thank you for the replies and taking the tongue in cheek questions in the spirit intended (this is a fun place you see!) I wish you well this season and will be happy to see Lincoln as runners up!!! |
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